Dr. Mnerh Alqahtani
"Beyond the research, IBK gave me a second family. That sense of belonging is what made the ambition possible in the first place."
Dr. Mnerh Alqahtani
Biography:
Dr. Mnerh Alqahtani earned her PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom. She obtained her BSc and MSc in mathematics from King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Currently, she holds the position of assistant professor at the University of Hafr Albatin (UHB). Dr. Alqahtani is currently pursuing IBK-postdoctoral research at MIT Mechanical Engineering at the SAND lab, collaborating with PI Prof. Themistoklis Sapsis.
MIT Fellowship Research Abstract:
Motivated by the devastating impact of rare and extreme events, Dr. Alqahtani’s current work focuses on quantifying the probability of their occurrence and improving prediction in high-impact regimes. Her research combines mathematical and statistical foundations, such as large deviation theory, with machine learning and optimization techniques. These tools apply to complex dynamical and spatio-temporal systems, particularly when understanding tail behavior and high-risk outcomes is essential yet difficult to observe, model, and predict.
One of Dr. Alqahtani’s current projects with the MIT SAND Lab uses deep neural network regression to predict future-period fields from historical spatio-temporal data, with a specific focus on predicting undesirable extreme weather events.
Through the IBK Fellowship and her research at MIT, she aims to build a collaborative research and consulting partnerships that translate rigorous mathematical ideas into practical tools for risk assessment and decision support, particularly in energy systems, extreme event prediction, and high-impact industrial applications.
Professional Affiliations:
- London Mathematical Society (LMS)
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
Professional Development & Leadership:
Professional Certifications
- Strategic Project Management Course, Harvard University, November 2024
- Public Speaking Certification, MIT Writing and Communication Center, October 2025
- Grant Writing Training Certificate, MIT Professional Development, January 2026
- Research Mentoring Certificate, MIT Professional Development, June 2026
Leadership Development Programs
- Leadership and Management in Action Program (L-MAP), Georgia Tech, MIT, and Virginia Tech, December 2025
- Participant, LEAPS Program: Leadership and Professional Strategies & Skills Program, MIT, February-April 2025
- Co-Facilitator, LEAPS Program: Leadership and Professional Strategies & Skills Program, MIT, March-April 2025
- Instructor, MIT LEAPS Program: Leadership and Professional Strategies for Scientists, Academy32, KACST (Saudi Arabia), January 2026
Teaching & Academic Leadership
- Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program, MIT, February-May 2025
- Poster Judge, Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference, Cambridge, MA, USA, March 2026
Honors/Awards
- MIT Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Arabian women scientists (Postdoctoral), 2024
- Excellence Award from UKSACB for the scientific achievements during 20/2021
- Postgraduate Award from The University of Warwick in Transferable Skills in Science, in Dec 2022
- Prize Winner at BMC-BAMC GLASGOW 2021 for poster titled "Extreme Events of Lagrangian Model of Passive Scalar Turbulence via Large Deviation Theory" in April 2021
- SIAM Student Travel Award from SIAM Conference on Uncertainty Quantification (UQ22), April 12-15, 2022
Pictured here, MIT Physics Professor Dr. Anna Frebel and Dr. Mnerh Alqahtani discussing their work.
Professor Frebel and Dr. Alqahtani collaborated bring MIT LEAPS to Saudi Arabia in January of 2026.
Bringing LEAPS to Saudi Arabia was made possible through the tremendous efforts of Dr. Alqahtani along with other current and former IBK Fellows.